I have been working on restoring my 1973 F350 Ranger 2x4 for almost a year now. It is one of those projects that some how developed a life of it's own.
Originally I just wanted to fuel inject the FE, which I did.
The engine had so much throttle response that the engine torquing caused the mechanical linkage to further increase the throttle position. I found an accelerator assembly from a 74 F250 that had a cable throttle. I grabbed that but found due to clearance issues I needed to pull the engine to get it installed.
That started the beginning of this restore project. At first I just wanted to paint the engine compartment so that the engine bay looked nice like my engine... but one thing led to another...
I will have some picts up shortly.

 

My 1973 F350 Ranger.

 

For some years the engine looked like this. Basic FE 390 with extra stuff.

 

In 2002 I built up a FE 428 and dropped it in.

 

I decided to fuel inject the engine. I started with just doing sequential ignition first. The distributor is no longer used (except it still helps turn the oil pump) and each plug has its own coil.

 

This is the engine after I pulled it out after driving around for a few weeks. The result was very impressive. It had such instant throttle response which caused the engine to torque enough to make the mechanical linkage pull the throttle plates in the throttle body enough to make the engine run faster. Very unnerving! So I decided to use a cable throttle assembly from a 74 F250. It would have bolted right in, but the engine was in the way. That was the beginning of my unplanned frame up restore. Basically I saw some rust and one thing let to another.

 

My first thought was just to fix the rust on the radiator core support, but once I found only four bolts holding on the cab, I decided to do the whole thing.

 

I had read that you could just lift the cab off. While my son was visiting we tried that. Too heavy. So I jacked up the cab and set it on some timbers and blocks, high enough that I could roll the frame out from under it.

 

This was the beginning of a lot of work.

 

Giving the frame a good cleaning before I sandblast it.

 

Sandblasting the frame was a bit of work. But it turned out nice. I used 500 lbs of aluminum oxide. Had to collect it three times to complete the job. So it took about 1500 lbs. The black plastic worked well, and I did not waste much. I rented a big blaster and compressor. I later invested in a Brut 150. I think I could have done the job with that and suffered less muscle soreness. The rented blaster was huge, hose was heavy, and it torqued my body each time I pulled the trigger. I also did all the frame manipulation myself. I was dead by the end of the day!

 

Way to be.
I know the exact feeling of one thing leading to another.
It'll feel great when you're done to have a perfect truck, just the way you want it.
Keep the pics coming.
Great job.

 

What kind of headers were you running before, and did it have a sway bar between the radius arms?

 

Originally there was no sway bar. The one I have now is an Addco that I added some years ago. It mounts from the front of the frame to the axles, so it does not go through the radius arms. Only thing through the radius arms on mine is the steering tie-rods.

I was actually surprised to hear that someone has factory from sway bar on a 73 F-350. Did not know that came that way. If it matters this F-350 had 9000 GVW on the door sticker. I am the original owner.

The headers are from Hedman - Elite Headers. Originally they barely fit. Of course the flange was just at the crossmember for the tranny making connections a real pain. I extended the collectors about 6 inches. On the positive side, the set I have is heavy and well built.

As I recall, my 73 F350 Ranger did not have many header options for a FE.

Hope you can find something!
If I had time and money I think I would try to get an original cast iron set from a HP 390 out of a Mustang or something.
By the time a FE engine makes it up into the rpm range where an aftermarket header would outperform a high performance cast iron original, the valve train is likely floating all over the place, unless you have spent a huge amount of money with a roller set up.

 

Nice job so far...my CS started off that color and I have a 73 SCS waiting in the barn.
Is it staying the same color?